Shepherd was one of a record three chefs from Houston nominated for the award, including Hugo Ortega of Hugo’s and Justin Yu of Oxheart. Last year both Ortega and Shepherd were nominated for the award which went to a chef from Denver (the Southwest region includes Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah).

Shepherd was joined on the stage by his friends and business partners Bobby Heugel and Michael Burnett of Clumsy Butcher and Underbelly sous chef Lyle Bento.

“I’d like to thank the city of Houston for letting me be a part of it and showing our vision of the city through our food,” Shepherd said in his brief acceptance speech.

Reached after winning the award Shepherd said he hadn’t prepared a speech because he didn’t expect to win. He also admitted to being “a little shaky right now.”

He said he regrets not thanking his mother and father during his speech (he said they were watching online).

He gave credit to his hard-working staff and said the award is important because it further confirms the national reputation Houston has gained over the past several years.

“It’s good for us, it’s good for Houston,” he said. “People can look at Houston in a better light now.”

Underbelly opened in March 2012, taking its name from the “underbelly of Houston” – the neighborhood markets, mom-and-pop eateries, bakeries, Mexican meat markets, fish emporiums, dumpling houses and food trucks that are represented along with the work of local farmers, ranchers and artisan food makers in the culinary melting pot of the city.